Automatic control mechanism for can making machines



June 19, 1934. FINK r AL Q 1,963,082

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CAN MAKING M AC-HINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 26, 1950 SW Jaw/6 June 19, 1934. |=|NK Er AL 1,963,082

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 6 mm! W lmmunnmm- 1 June 19, 1934; H. A. FINK EIIAL 1,963,082

AUTOIATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES ration of New York Application February 26, 1930, Serial No. 431,544 Renewed June 24, 1932 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic control mechanism for can making machines. It is a custom in can making plants to provide a line of machines I which are independently operated and which operate in succession in the formation of a can body. This line includes a body maker for forming the body and soldering the side seam, a flanging machine for fianging the ends of the I body, a seaming machine for double seaming an end on the body, and a testing machine for testing completed cans for leaks. The present invention has to do with an automatic control mechanism associated with each machine so that II when any portion of the line becomes filled with cans so that there is no further room for the cans being made by any particular machine in the line, that machine will be automatically stopped. I An object of the invention is to provide a rotating mechanism which is controlled by the cans received from the machine with which it is associated, which mechanism is yieldingly driven and in continuous operation while the cans are moving and which is so associated with the conveying means that it is stopped when the cans accumulate in the conveying means, and which mechanism operates in turn through an electrically controlled mechanism for stopping the machine when said can control mechanism stops and which automatically starts the machine when said can control mechanism is released for rotation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. control mechanism for a can making machine of the above character wherein an electric circuit is established when said rotating mechanism stops for controlling the operation of the can making machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism for a can making machine of the above type wherein pneumatically operated devices are controlled by the electric circuit for starting and stopping the machine.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:-

Figure l is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation showing more or less diagrammatically a mechanism for starting and stopping a can making machine which is controlled by the cans delivered from the machine.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of a portion of the rotating mechanism showing the circuit controlling devices positioned so that the circuit is broken.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the circuit controlling devices positioned for 6 establishing the circuit and stopping the machine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 0! Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the rotating control mechanism associated with the conveyor and operated upon by the cans.

Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing the electric connection between the circuit control and the 0 lines connected thereto.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a view partly in plan and partly in section showing more or less diagrammatically the conveying means for the cans and the yieldingly rotating member which is controlled by the passing cans, said view showing the cans in motion and the member as rotating.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the cans in the line as having accumulated 35 and stopped and the rotating member as stopped thereby.

Fig. 12 is a' view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the member as yielding and passing a can when striking the same head on.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a portion of the rotating governor showing the circuit controlling memher mounted thereon.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits between the circuit controlling member and the solenoid which controls the valve of the pneumatically operated devices which start and stop the machine.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view through the pneumatically operated starting and stopping mechanism for the machine.

Fig. 17 is a view partly in plan and partly in is so constructed as to stop the machine when the cans which are being conveyed away from the machine for any reason stop, and for automatically starting the machine when the cans are released so that further cans can be conveyed away from the machine as they are completed. In a can making plant it is customary to provide a line of machines operating independently for completing can bodies. The line of machines includes a body maker for forming the body and soldering the side seam, a flanger for flanging the ends of the body, a double seamer for attaching an end to the body, and a tester for testing the cans for leaks. The can bodies after they are completed by the body maker are automatically conveyed by suitable conveying mechanism to the fianger and as they are delivered from the flanger they are automatically conveyed and presented to the double seamer. Likewise, when they are delivered from the double seamer they are conveyed to and. presented to the tester. As the cans come from the tester they are delivered to a suitable place for storage or use. In a line of this character it is very essential that when there is a stoppage in the line for any reason the machine shall be stopped and when the line is free then the machine shall be automatically started.

The invention has to do, with a governor or automatic control mechanism associated with each one of the units which is controlled by the moving cans in the line and which control mechanism operates in turn through the starting and stopping devices associated with the respective unit. The cans are conveyed along runways by a traveling belt which frictionally engages the cans and when there is no place to deliver the cans they back up in the line and stop.

Mounted adjacent the conveying means which receives the cans from one of the units is a governor which includes a rotating device operated yieldingly by the belt which conveys the cans or other suitable yielding means so that said rotating device may be stopped and started without disturbing its connection to the operating means therefor. This rotating device includes an arm having a contact member mounted thereon for yielding radial movement and which is so disposed that the path of rotation of the contact member intersects the path of travel of the cans. When the cans are moving the contact member travels with the cans and its rotation is not stopped. When, however, the cans stop their movement, then this contact member will also stop. There is a clutch between the rotating means and the member to which this arm is attached. Moving with the arm is a disc carrying a circuit closing mechanism which is so constructed that when the disc stops the circuit is established and when the disc is in motion the circuit is broken.

Associated with each machine is a pneumatically operated starting and stopping mechanism which includes a cylinder, a piston connected to the clutch lever of the machine and a shiftable valve directing air under pressure to one side or the other of said piston for shifting the clutch of the machine. This shiftable valve is connected to a lever which is controlled by a solenoid which in turn is controlled by a circuit made or broken by the circuit breaker on the rotating disc.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention is shown as applied to a control mechanism for a can making machine, the clutch lever of which is indicated at 1. It is understood that the can making machine may be of any desired character and the term can is used in a broad sense as referring to either the body as it is completed by the body maker, the body as it is provided with flanges by the flanging machine, or the body when it has an end attached thereto by the double seaming mechanism. This clutch lever operates through suitable devices when shifted in one direction to start the machine, and when shifted in the other direction to stop the machine. The clutch lever is connected through a link 2 with a piston rod 3 attached to a piston 4 mounted for reciprocation in a cylinder 5. A valve 6 is mounted in a valve chamber 7, and this valve connects the chamber to a port 8 leading to the right hand side of the piston 4, as viewed in Fig. 16, or it connects the chamber 7 to a port 9 leading to the left hand side of the piston. It also connects the cylinder to an exhaust port 10.

Attached to the valve 6 is a rod 11. This rod is pivoted to a bell crank 12 pivoted at 13 to a bracket 14. A spring 15 is attached at one end to the bell crank 12 and at the other end to a bolt 16 adjustably mounted in a bracket 17. The bell crank 12 is pivotally connected by a link 18 to an armature 19 of the solenoid 20. This solenoid 20 is mounted on brackets 21, 21 attached to the cylinder 5. When the solenoid is energized the bell crank 12 is turned in a clockwise direction which shifts the valve to the right as viewed in Fig. 16, thus establishing a connection through the port 9 between the valve chamber '7 and the cylinder which will move the piston to the right. When the solenoid is deenergized, then the spring 15 will move the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction, shifting the valve back to the position shown in Fig. 16, thus establishing a connection through the port 8 between the valve chamber '7 and the cylinder, which results in a movement of the piston to the left.

The means for controlling the circuit through the solenoid will now be described. The cans are indicated at C in the drawings. They are conveyed along a runway consisting of a supporting member 22 and side guide rails 23, 23. A cable 24 travels over the supporting member 22 and the cans resting on the cable are moved along therewith. The cans stand on end as they are moved along the runway. This runway for the cans leads from the machine with which the control device is associated and receives the completed cans and conveys them either to another machine for operation, to a place for storage, or a place for use.

The control mechanism includes a supporting bracket 25 in which is mounted a shaft 26. The shaft 26 is mounted for rotation in supporting bearings 27, 2'7 carried by the bracket. Loosely mounted on the shaft is a sleeve 28 carrying a bevel gear 29. This be'vel gear 29 meshes with a bevel gear 30 on a cross shaft 31 mounted in bearings 32, 32 carried by the bracket. On the end of the shaft 31 is a pulley 33. The cable 24 makes contact with this pulley and is driven thereby. As the pulley rotates it will rotate the sleeve which is loosely mounted on the shaft 26.

The shaft 26 is provided with a collar 34 against which the sleeve 28 bears. Fixed to theshaft is a sleeve 35 which is yieldingly pressed into frictional gripping contact with the sleeve 28 by a spring 36. The spring 36 bears against the collar 3'? at its upper end. As the sleeve 28 isrotated it will through the sleeve 35 impart rotation to the shaft 26. The sleeve 35 is connected by a spline 38 to the shaft. If the shaft 26 is restrained against rotation, then the friction clutch faces between the sleeve 28 and the sleeve 35 will merely slip one on the other. This provides a driving means for the shaftwhich is a yielding driving connection and which permits the shaft to be stopped without interfering with its driving connection, and at the same time causes the shaft to again be rotated when the restraint imposed on said shaft is released.

Fixed to the shaft and rotating therewith is a radially extending device 39. This device as shown more clearly in Figs. 5, 10 and 13 includes a hub member 40 which is clamped to the shaft by means of a clamping bolt 41 which passes through the arms extending from the hub and thus it is that the hub member is clamped to the shaft.

Mounted for radial movement in this hub member are two rods 42 and 43. A spring 44 carried by the rod 43 bears at one end against the hub member and bears at the other end against a contact member 45 'which is mounted on the two rods 42 and 43. Each rod has a series of holes 46 therethrough and a cotter pin 47 is placed in one of the openings on each rod. These cotter pins limit the outward movement of the contact member away from the hub through the action of the spring 44.

As the shaft 26 rotates the device 39 will rotate therewith. This device, as clearly shown in Figs. 10 to 12 is so disposed that the path of rotation of the contact member 45 overlaps or intersects the path of travel of the can bodies along the runway. The'side guide rails 23 adjacent the controlling device has a slot 23a formed therein, through which the contact member moves. The cable 24 is traveling continuously and through the pulley 33 will rotate the sleeve 28, which, in turn, through the friction clutch causes the shaft 26 to rotate. This will cause the contact member 45 to move in a circular path about the center of the shaft 26 as an axis. The contact member rotates as' indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10 in a clockwise direction. The cans also travel in the direction of the arrow on said figure.

When the cans are moving the contact member will move along with the cans and the shaft will rotate. If this contact member strikes a can head on, as shown in Fig. 12, it will yield so as to prevent jamming and will move with the can. When, however, the cans stop their travel in the runway due to the fact that there is no place to store the cansor no machine to take the cans from the runway, then they will accumulate and come to a stop, while the cable will slip underneath the cans. The stopping of the cans will at once cause the contact member 45 to stop and this will stop the shaft 26 causing the clutch to slide.

On the upper end of the shaft 26 is a support 48. Thissupport 48is rigidly attached to the shaft and rotates therewith. Mounted on the support is a bracket 49. Pivoted to the bracket 49 is a mercury switch 50. This mercury switch consists of a supporting tube 51 to which is attached an arm 52 and the arm 52 is pivoted at 53 to the bracket 49. Within this tube is a glass cylinder 54 in which is placed a quantity of mercury indicated at 55 in the drawings. This glass cylinder is closed and preferably put under vacuum. There are two wires 56 and 57 which extend into the chamber in the glass cylinder. These wires within the chamber are spaced, and when the mercury is at the end of the cylinder containing the wires, it will join the wires and thus establish a circuit from one wire to the other. When, however, the mercury is at the other end of the cylinder the circuit will be broken. The tube 51 is limited in its rocking movementon the pivot support 53 by an adjustable stop 58. It is also limited in its movement in the opposite direction by an adjustable stop 59. When the supporting member 48 is" rotated, then centrifugal force will cause the tube to tilt to the position shown in Fig. 2 and this will cause the circuit to be broken. When, however, the rotating support 48 stops, then the tube will swing to the position shown in Fig. 3, due to the fact that the pivotal support for the tube is'nearer the outer end than the inner end. When in this position the mercury running to the left hand end of the glass cylinder will establish the circuit.

From the above it will be apparent that we have provided a circuit closure device which operates automatically to close the circuit when the rotating support 48 stops and to break the circuit as long as said support is in rotation. The wire 56 leads down through the support 48 and is connected to a commutator 60 while the wire 57 leads down through the support and is connected to a commutator 61. A yielding brush 62 engages the commutator 60 and a yielding brush 63 engages the commutator 61. A wire 64 leads from the commutator brush 62 to the solenoid 20 and a wire 65 leads from the commutator brush 63 to the other source of supply, which, in turn, is connected to the other terminal of the solenoid. These commutator rings 60 and 61 are mounted on a sleeve of insulating material 66, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The commutator brushes are mounted in a block of insulating material 67 mounted on the bracket 25. The commutator rings are covered by a casing 68.

From the above it will be apparent that when the shaft 26 is rotating the circuit is broken through the solenoid and when the circuit is broken, then the spring 15 operates to shift the valve 6 to the position shown in Fig. 16, and when thus positioned the piston is forced to the left hand end of the cylinder and this through theshifting of the clutch lever automatically starts the machine. In other words, when the cans are traveling the contact member rotates freely, the support 48 rotates and the machine is automatically started. When, however, the cans clog for any reason and stop the travel, then the support 48 will be stopped and this will cause the circuit to be established. The establishing of the circuit through the cylinder will shift the valve 6 to the right as viewed in Fig. 16, thus causing the piston 4 to be shifted to the right and a movement of the clutch lever which will stop the machine.

From the above it will be apparent that we have provided a governor or automatic operating mechanism which is controlled by the movement or non-movement of the cans in the runway into which the cans are delivered from the machine for stopping the machine when the runway is full of cans and for automatically starting the machine when the runway is empty of cans, so that they may be delivered thereto and taken away from the machine. The governor used in connection with each unit in the line of machines operates in precisely the same way, except that 1.1; in connection with the body maker instead of stopping the body maker, the can bodies are diverted from the runway into an auxiliary receptacle.

While we have described the automatic gover- 3 nor as applied to machines for operating upon cans, it will be understood that it may be used in connection with any type of article making machine wherein it is desired to control the action of the machine by the articles which are being 15:-

operated upon as they are delivered from the machine. While we have shown and described an electrically operated means controlled by the governor, it will be understood that other ways may be used for accomplishing the control of the machine. In place of the pneumatically operated clutch shifting device, means may be utilized for shifting the clutch lever and the machine may be rendered operative or inoperative in other ways than by stopping.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--

1. An automatic control mechanism for can making machines comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, a rotating member adjacent said conveying means, means for yieldingly rotating the same, means for stopping said rotating member when the cans stop and again starting the same when the cans move, and means operated by the stopping and starting of the rotating member for controlling the operation of the can making machine.

2. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, mechanism controlled by the cans carried by the convey ng means for automatically stopping and starting the machine including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member,meansadapted to contact with the cans and controlled thereby whereby the rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, and means operated by the stopping and starting of the rotating member for stopping the machine when the rotating member stops, and for starting the machine when said member is released and rotated.

3. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, mechan sm controlled by the cans carried by the convey ng means for automatically stopping and starting the machine including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, means adapted to contact with the cans and controlled thereby whereby the rotating member s stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, and electricallycontrolled means including a switch carried by said rotating member and operated by the stopping and starting thereof for stopping the machine when the rotating member stops and for starting the machine when said member is released and rotated.

4. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising means for receiving cans from the machine, mechanism controlled by the cans carried by the conveying means for automatically stopping and starting the machme including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, an arm attached to and moving with said rotating member, said arm being positioned so as to contact with the cans and be controlled thereby whereby the rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, and means operated by the stopping and starting of the rotating member for stopping the machine when the rotating member stops and for starting the machine when said member is released and rotated.

5. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising means for receiving cans from the machine, mechanism controlled by the cans carried by the conveying means for automatically stopping and starting the machine including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, an arm attached to and moving with said rotating member, said am being positioned so as to contact with the cans and be controlled thereby whereby the rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, and electrically controlled means including a switch carried by said rotating member and operated by the stopping and starting of said rotating member for stopping the machine when said member stops and for starting the machine when said member is released and rotated.

6. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cansfrom the machine, mechanism controlled by the cans carried by the conveying means for automatically stopping and starting the machine including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, means adapted to contact with the cans and controlled thereby whereby the rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, electrically controlled means including a tilting mercury switch carried by said rotating member and moved by gravity into one position and by centrifugal force into another position whereby said switch is opened and closed by the stopping and starting of said rotating member, and means controlled by said switch for stopping the machine when the rotating member stops and for starting the machine when said member is released and rotated.

'7. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, an arm connected to and rotating with said member, a yielding device carried by said arm and adapted to contact with the cans whereby saidrotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, an electric switch carried by said rotating member and shiftable to closed position by the stopping of said rotating member and to open position when said member is rotating, and mechanism controlled by said switch for stopping the machine when the rotating member stops and for starting the machine when the member is released and rotated.

8. In automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, an arm connected to and rotating with said member, a yielding device carried by said arm and adapted to contact with the cans whereby said rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the'cans move, an electric mercury switch, means for pivotally supporting said switch whereby when said rotating member is stopped, said switch is closed and when said member is rotating, said switch will be moved by centrifugal force so as to open the switch, and mechanism controlled by said switch whereby said machine is stopped when said rotating member stops, and said machine is started when said member is released and rotated.

9. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, mechanism controlled by the cans carried by the conveying means for automatically stopping and starting the machine including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, means adapted to contact with the cans and controlled thereby whereby the rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, electrically controlled means for stopping and starting the machine including a switch carried by said rotating member, which switch is closed when said rotating member stops, and is automatically opened when said member is released and rotated, and pneumatically operated devices for stopping and starting the machine controlled by said switch.

10. An automatic control mechanism for a can making machine comprising conveying means for receiving cans from the machine, mechanism controlled by the cans carried by the conveying means for automatically stopping and starting the machine including a rotating member, means for yieldingly rotating said member, means adapted to contact with the cans and controlled thereby whereby the rotating member is stopped when the cans stop moving and is again started when the cans move, electrically controlled means for stopping and starting the machine including a switch carried by said rotating member, which switch is closed when said rotating member stops, and is automatically opened when said member is released and rotated, pneumatically operated devices for stopp and starting the machine controlled by said switch including a control piston, a valve for directing air to the opposite sides of said piston, a solenoid controlled by the switch for shifting the valve when energized for stopping the machine, and a spring for shifting the valve when the solenoid is deenergized for starting the machine.

HENRY A. FINK.

J. E. SCHMIDT. 

